Though it doesn't boast the indie street cred of Homegrown Hip Hop, Jannus Live's inaugural Swagg Fest is at least a step in the right direction — exposing local folks to the local hip-hop scene. This showcase features performances by three talents billed as the Bay area's fastest-rising hip-hop acts. Lil Kee from Tampa spits his rhymes against ass-bumpin' beats in the club-ready "Buss It WideOpen." Famous Kid Brick of St. Pete has a new single, the bouncy call-and-response having-a-good-day euphoric "I'm On It," that's enjoyed regular airplay on Lakeland's Wild 94.1 FM since in April. And Largo-based Shawty samples famous tracks from 1984 in his two main dancefloor ditties, Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me" in "I Made It Rain" ("She said she feel like, she feel like sexing me" … clever, I know), and the hook from Prince's "I Would Die 4 U" in "My Boo."
Details: Swagg Fest with Lil Kee, Famous Kid Brick and Shawty, Fri., July 8 p.m., Jannus Live, St. Petersburg, $10.
This article appears in Jul 7-13, 2011.